Many parents take the matter of their baby snoring seriously, believing that it is a sign that their child is sleeping soundly. As children grow older and snore louder, parents begin to realize the existence of the problem. Experts remind that snoring may be caused by adenoid lesions. If a baby is found to snore for a long time, it should be promptly sent to a doctor for examination.
Experts say children snoring need to consider whether they have adenoidal hypertrophy, tonsillar hypertrophy, rhinitis, sinusitis, etc. Adenoids are the lymphoid tissue of the nasopharynx, located at the junction of the top and rear walls of the nasopharynx. If the adenoid body is enlarged, it can clog the sinuses, even clog the opening of the middle ear canal, causing inflammation of the sinuses or middle ear. If the adenoid body is excessively enlarged, it can block the nasopharynx, making it impossible to breathe through the nose, causing snoring and breathing with the mouth open.
Long term open mouth breathing often leads to protrusions, lengthening of the jaw bones, elevation of the jaw bones, and thickening of the lips in the baby's developing face. Such facial changes are medically referred to as "adenoid facial features.". He pointed out that adenoids, like tonsils, are the barrier tissue of the nasopharynx, helping the body fight against foreign bacteria and viruses. As the immune system matures with age, adenoids also "mature" and generally begin to atrophy after the age of 6, often disappearing around adolescence.
However, when viruses and bacteria appear in the adenoid body, it will swell and surround the pathogen. After removing the pathogen, the adenoid body sometimes reverts to its original state, but sometimes when the number of infections is excessive or the body itself is in an overreaction, the swelling will persist, forming "adenoid hypertrophy.". The main symptoms of adenoid hypertrophy include nasal congestion, open mouth breathing, nasal sounds when speaking, snoring, and sleep apnea (this can also lead to sleep instability due to lack of oxygen during night sleep, frequent bed wetting, drowsiness during the day, and lack of concentration).
Experts remind that after the diagnosis of adenoidal hypertrophy, doctors will give comprehensive conservative treatment based on whether there are concurrent infections, allergic rhinitis, and other conditions. If conservative treatment fails, surgical treatment will be considered. It is worth mentioning that due to the natural atrophy process of the adenoids themselves, doctors will also consider the age of the child when considering treatment. When persistent snoring occurs, accompanied by open mouth breathing, and sometimes suffocation occurs, it is recommended to seek medical advice from a regular hospital.